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(No Model.)

G. S. HEERIOK.

FEED WATER REGULATOR. No. 373,402. Patented Nov. 15, 1887.

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ATTORNE S.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

GEORGE S. HERRIOK, OF SYRACUSE, NElV YORK.

FEED-WATER REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373,402, dated November 15, 1887.

Serial No. 227,641. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. HERRIOK, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Feed-Tater Regulators for Steam-Boilers, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is afull, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements-in automatic feed water regulators for steamboilers, in which a float is located within a vessel or tank connected to the boiler at the high and low water points thereof, and is utilized to automatically control the exit of steam from the boiler to the steam-pump for the purpose of regulating the supply of feed-water to the boiler automatically, and the object is to so construct and arrange theintermediate connections between the boiler and pump as to produce an eiiicient and reliable device for controlling the pump, so as to secure under all conditions the proper supply of water to the boiler automatically; and to this end my invention consists in combining a steam pump and steam-boiler with a fioat-vesselof peculiar construction, the pump connected to the float vessel, in the top or head of which is provided an intermediate steam chamber or passage provided with a valve connected to the float, all as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

It consists also in the detail construction and arrangement of the parts, whereby the valve is rendered sensitive and delicate in its operation by the float, as hereinafter more particularly explained, and pointed out in the claims.

In specifying my invention reference is bad to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Figure 1 is an elevation of my invention, illustrating the connection of the boiler, steampump, theintermediate steam chamber or passage, and float-vessel, together with the steam and water connections between the pump, boiler, float-vessel, and steam-chamber. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 00 m, Fig. 3, illustrating the arrangement and connection of the float to the steam-valve, and also the intermediate steam chamber or passage and the inlet-pipe from the boiler and exit-pipe to the steam-pump. Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan of the float-vessel, the intermediate steam-chamber being shown in section taken on line 3 11 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail, partly in section, of a part of the intermediate steam chamber or passage, illustrating more clearly the steam-inlet pipe from the boiler connecting with the steamchambcr and the steam-valve operated by the float.

a represents a steam-pump of any desirable form or construction for supplying the boiler with water.

b is the boiler of any desirable form or construction, the pump having a feed-water pipe, 0, connected to the boiler in any desirable way.

f is the float vessel or tank connected to the boiler by means of the pipes 1 and 2, which are located, respectively, at the high and low wate points of the boiler. The float vessel or tank is provided with a blow-off valve, 3, and glass water-gage 4. In the top or head of the float vessel or tank I provide the intermediate steam chamber or passage, cast integral with the top or head of the fioat-vessel, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

e d are respectively the steaminlet pipe from the boiler and the steam-feed pipe of the steam pump a, the steam inlet pipe 6 being located directly above the valve 0, Fig. ,4, for the purpose presently explained.

WVhcn my invention is applied tolargc b0ilers in which a large steam-pump is necessary to supply the feed-water, I preferably construct the float vessel or tankfwith the extended chamberf, Fig. 2, and in the head of the float-vessel I provide lugs 5 5, between which is pivoted one end of the lcverj, the opposite end of which is connected to the stem Z of the float F, and the valvestem h is pivoted to the leverj, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the object being to secure the benefit of the leverage in operating the valve e by means of the float F; but in small boilers, where a small steam-pu mp suflices to supply the boiler-feed, the float F may be connected directly to the valve-stem h. I

F is the float, which is constructed, in the usual manner, of copper or other non-corrosive metal, of sutficient weight for the desired purpose, and the float-vesself is supplied with water from the boiler I) through the connections 1 and 2, which cause the water in the float vessel or tank to stand at the same level with the water in the boiler and the float F floats in the float-vessel. The blow-oft valve 3 is utilized to clean the float-vessel, and the glass gage 4 serves to indicate the height of water in the float-vessel and also in the boiler.

In apparatus of this character for the auto matic control of the feed-water of the boiler, as heretofore constructed, serious defects have been found, for the reason that no provision was made to prevent the formation of a vacuum in the float vessel or tank, the float vessel or tank having been connected by a steampipedirectly to the boiler and the steamvalve opening in the float-vessel. When the water got low in the boiler, it was found that the steam-valve would not always open or remain open, for the reason that the pressure in the steam-pipe was unequal, and the suction of the steam above the float in the float-vessel would cause the valve to close prematurely before the necessary supply of water to the boiler could be obtained, and the efficiency of the device was thereby destroyed.

My apparatus or invention is designed eX- pressly to overcome this difficulty, and I ac complish this desirable result by providing the intermediate steam chamber or passage, 9, which, as will be observed, is entirely separate from the interior of the float-vessel, and simply connects with the float-vessel, or rather with the float, by means of the valvestem h, which passes through a brass or bronze metal bushing, 6, Fig. 4, and also by locating the steam-inlet pipe communicating with the boiler directly overthe valve 0, Figs. 2 and 4,the exitpipe which supplies steam to the steam-pump I heretofore made have been deficient in the being connected to the opposite extremity of the intermediate steam chamber or passage, 9.

In my construction, it will be observed, no steam enters the float vessel or tank excepting through the water-connection pipes 1 and 2; hence it is impossible to form a vacuum above the float F, and the difficulty existing in the old construction is thereby overcome. Furthermore, by taking the steam from the boiler directly over the steam-valve e into the steam passage or chamber 9 secures an even pressure above the valve 6 and the float F, which balances the valve and renders the same reliable under all conditions of steam and water pressure in the boiler and float vessel or tank f, thus securing reliability and accuracy in the working of the automatic feed-water-regulating device.

All devices or apparatus of this character particulars specified, and it has been necessary to provide means to weight the float or to pull it down in order to open the steam-valve; hence these appliances have not been satisfactory or popularin consequence of these defects.

The valve-stem h carries the valve 0, which takes in the valve-seat c, Fig. 4, and the stem passes through the brass or bronze sleeve or bushing 6, as stated, which is provided wit-h the lever j is unnecessary, and I provide a hanger, 10, Figs. 2-and 4:, which is employed when the lever is used to prevent the float from dropping down too far as the water lowers in the float-vessel and boiler.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The water in' the boiler having fallen to a point which necessitates a further supply, which is adjusted by the drop.of the float F, the float F lowers in the float vessel or tank andopens the valve 6, which permits the ingress of steam-through the pipe 6 from the boiler, and the steam passes through the intermediate chamber or steam-passage, 9, into the steam-feeding pipe (Z of the steam-pump, thus supplying steam for the actuation of the steampump a. The operation of the pump a (said pump being connected to the supply-tank or water-supply) feeds water through the feedpipe 0 into the boiler b. As the water in the boiler 12 rises, the float rises with it and gradually shuts of the supply of steam to the steampump, and when the water has reached the required height in the boiler the supply of steam to the steam-pump is entirely shut off and the water-feed to the boiler checked, As the water in the boiler lowers, the feed is again started, and the supply of feedwater is thus automatically regulated or controlled.

It will be observed that by my invention the steam of the boiler is taken directly through the intermediate steam passage or chamber to automatically operate the feed-water pump through the medium of the float and the steamvalve between the steam inlet pipe in the steam chamber or passage and the steam-feed pipe for the pump, so as to balance the press ure on the valve, and in this waythe formation of a vacuum within the float vessel or tank above the float F is prevented, and a reliable and accurate device for the desired pur pose is thus provided.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i 1. An automatic feed-water regulator for steam-boilers, comprising a float-vessel having anintermediate steam chamber or passage in, the head of the float-vessel, madeintegral therewith-and extending transversely across the vessel, provided with steam-pipes connecting it to the boiler and steam-pump, a steam-pump for supplying the boiler with water, and a steam-valve in the steam chamber or passage operated automatically by the floatin the floatvessel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a feed-water regulator, a float-vessel provided with an isolated steam chamber or passage in the head of the vessel, made integral therewith, and a valve within the floatvessel connected to a lever and operated by the float, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The float-vessel f, having connections 1 2 to attach it to a boiler, and the steam chamher or passageg in the head of the vessel, provided with the steam-connections e d, and the valve 6 within the float-vessel and connected to the lever j, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The float-vessel top or head made with the integral steam-passage 9, depending lugs 5, to which the lever 7 is pivoted, and depending stop 10 for supporting lever 7 when at its lowest point of depression, in combination with the valve within the fioatvessel and the float F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The float vessel or tank f, having eX- tended chamber-f, the lugs 5 and steam-passage 9, made integral with the head, and the lever j, pivoted to the lugs 5 in the extension f and connected to the float F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 11th day of February, 1887.

GEORGE S. HERRICK.

\Vitnesses:

A. E. PARSONS, E. O, CANNON. 

